After my lesson last week, (in which I forgot my gloves and my trainer subsequently nailed me on all kinds of hand faults) I started wondering why we don't make a point to lesson in light colored gloves, when we WANT to call attention to our hands. That's the point behind these jackets too, isn't it?
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| I know I just used this picture, but in my Thursday lesson she started nailing me for my right hand always being too high, which looks like it has been a problem for a while, judging by this picture. Definitely don't need attention drawn to those hands... |
I like fun blog experiments, and this seemed like a good one. I ordered a pair of white Roeckl Chesters, which I will wear for lessons and see if there is any difference in the feedback I get. I won't wear them for anything but lessons with my long-time trainer, so nobody gets the wrong idea and thinks I'm full of myself.
(Yes, I know they won't stay white. That's okay. I am decades away from being competent enough to wear white gloves for showing.)
(I can't ride in anything but Roeckls. At least I got a good deal on these. I'm currently going through a crisis of conscience over wanting a pair of black ones for showing, and not being able to pull the trigger based on the enormous cost-per-wear of paying $50 for something I'll wear for approximately what, 60 minutes per year? I have literally both added them to my Riding Warehouse cart and picked them up in a brick-and-mortar tack shop last week and put them back twice. Ugh.)
Doooooooooooooooo itttttttttttttt. Roeckls are the only gloves I'll wear forever and ever.
ReplyDeleteOh man same here. They are lifechanging.
DeleteSo now I want that sweat scraper and that pink and black jacket! I have every color of gloves for schooling (not a surprise), but they are mostly sale bin gloves so there are no moral money issues there. I also show in black gloves, I feel like I need to be competing at higher than first level to justify white gloves.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, I want that jacket too! Totally with you on showing in white gloves - I am yeeeeeeeears away from that.
DeleteHuh. Those jackets are fascinating. It kind of reminds me how I used a silver sharpie to mark where my hands should be when my reins are short, to visually remind me when my reins were too long. The visual helped a LOT.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I lust after the tan/camel colored roeckls. Maybe if they fit me better I'd consider the expense.
Me too. I couldn't find them for cheap though. They're tough to find.
DeleteI bought a pair of tan SSG hybrid gloves in the fall because I thought they looked nice- I ultimately used this same reason to justify the purchase! I don't show, but always assumed I must have black gloves. Why? So silly. I don't wear them all the time, and I can't say I have noticed our trainer harp more on my hands while wearing them but I am confident that's just because she has bigger fish to fry when I am in the saddle ;-) so I'll be curious to see how your experiment turns out!
ReplyDeleteI've seen those, they look nice. Ha! She's probably going to pay more attention to everyone's hands now after drilling me two lessons in a row.
DeleteRoeckls. I resisted for so long, now I'm never, EVER going back. I'm too afraid to wear white gloves in lessons - I hear enough about my hands on the daily wearing black gloves! You are a brave soul.
ReplyDeleteRoeckls are straight up magic!
DeleteI love this idea! White gloves in lessons and black gloves in the ring for the time being. I might have to look into getting lighter gloves. Oh, and I also tend to have trouble with having my right hand higher.
ReplyDeleteOf course you do, we're twins! Haha. That's interesting. I think it's related to that being my mouse hand. I actually have another post to write about my Sunday lesson, I figured out a mobility issue in my left arm that causes my thumb to not point up.
DeleteThat's brilliant! Why didn't I think of that??
ReplyDeleteI didn't either until I forgot my gloves! Haha.
DeleteI tried my first (and second) pair of Roeckls on this year. I'd like a pair, but I'm balking at the price.
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, sticking with black to show. Definitely not that good yet.
And I'd like a PS of Sweden bridle, but I balk at the price :-p Haha. Funny how we can each feel totally cool spending money on some things, but not others.
DeleteMy comment has nothing to do with white gloves, fair warning. I NEVER ride in gloves. I hate riding in gloves. I don't understand why everyone likes it? I mean I get it, but I don't agree. My favorite part of the jumpers was not having to wear gloves.
ReplyDeleteNow that I'm back in hunterland indefinitely, I did pony up for a pair of Roeckl's. They are less terrible than normal gloves. Either way, this comment is random but I felt inclined to share. :)
Haha, not random at all! I used to be the same as you when I did H/J, I hated gloves. But in Dressage we carry so much more weight in the reins (even in a normal non-pulling horse situation) that it kinda hurts to ride without gloves. At least for me. Roeckls are definitely the least glove-like gloves, they just fit like a second skin. Love them! Your opinion makes total sense to me.
DeleteI also really hated wearing gloves forever (especially back in the days of grabbing mane while I was learning to jump) but then I moved to Florida and half of the year my horse and I are dripping sweat and I just couldn't hold on.
DeleteI ended up buying my first pair of Roeckls this weekend because I realized an hour before my show that I forgot to pack gloves, and there wasn't many choices in my size at the few vendors at the schooling show... so secretly I was thrilled that I had no choice but to buy my first pair.
They remind me of a slightly nicer version of the SSG gloves I was riding in before. I can't remember exactly which ones they were, but they were around $35 and totally tolerable for a previous non-glove wearer.
Roeckls are my fav.
ReplyDeleteinteresting!!! i honestly rarely wear gloves while schooling dressage anyway... even tho i probably should since i show in them and need to learn a better feel....
ReplyDeletea thing i *do* do tho is wear lots of long sleeve shirts with thumb holes - esp in the winter, and ESP my super duper warm hot pink shirt. the little bit of hot pink sticking out to cover my hand always stands out starkly against a dark jacket, so it has the same effect of highlighting the hands
I am still on my first pair of roeckels, I bought a second pair as back up and its like seriously what... 5 years ago I bought the first pair, so bite the bullet, you will have them forever :P
ReplyDeleteI have two pairs, three now! They actually haven't held up great due to my rubber reins. But they're still going, just in rough shape.
DeleteHuh - I've never head of those jackets before! Super intriguing. And I'm intrigued to hear how the glove experiment goes!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous idea! I wonder if I could get white reflective cuffs or something and stick them on my kids and just nail them constantly for things hahahahahahahaha
ReplyDeleteI used to hate gloves so much that I'd get blisters between my fingers from a particularly heavy on the hands school horse. And then I met my first pair of Roeckls. I love them. I love them so much. Like L, I actually bought a back-up pair and am wondering when the hell I'm going to get to use them! :)
ReplyDeleteI have never understood why people are so shy about wearing white gloves! I show dressage in white gloves and have never had one comment from a judge on it. I think people psych themselves out about them too much!
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure I'd be ripped off a horse if I wore any of those clothes. "HOW IS YOUR BODY EVEN MOVING LIKE THAT?!" is what someone would yell at me lol
ReplyDelete